Reporters’ Notebook

WE ALL KNOW CAPT. CHESLEY "SULLY" SULLENBERGER as the pilot who safely landed a crippled US Airways jetliner in the Hudson River, saving all 155 people on board.

But did you also know that Sullenberger, 57, holds nearly all of the highest flight ratings, including certificates for an airline transport pilot, flight instructor and glider pilot? Or that he is cleared to fly a half dozen different commercial planes and flew F-4 Phantom II fighter jets at Nellis Air Force Base and overseas?

It turns out old "Sully" has all the credentials for the job except one: He's not certified to make take-offs and landings on water.

KEITH ROGERS

WHETHER IT'S SPELLED "MAIL" OR "MALE," former strip club owner Rick Rizzolo doesn't seem to be a fan. He never accepted male dancers at his club. Now he won't accept mail at his home.

Attorney Don Campbell, who represents a customer badly hurt at Rizzolo's strip joint, complained that certified mail sent to the Henderson home where Rizzolo lives was returned.

Rizzolo lost his business and served a year in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion charges. His attorney, Mark Hafer, offers a simple answer to Campbell's complaint: The reason Rizzolo won't sign is because "he doesn't know who it's coming from, and it's usually bad news."

ADRIENNE PACKER

OVERHEARD ON THE SCANNER: "Hey, isn't that the neighbor? The good-looking neighbor from the other day?"

THERE WERE DANCERS FROM THE LOHAN SCHOOL at Las Vegas City Hall on Wednesday to help celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Dancers from the same school appeared in the 2001 movie "Rush Hour 2," part of which was set in Las Vegas.

In fact, as Councilman Steve Wolfson pointed out, Mayor Oscar Goodman had a small role in the film, but it ended up on the cutting room floor.

"I was hotter than fish grease," Goodman said of the snub.

The way he tells it, he got right on the phone with star Jackie Chan and director Brett Ratner and said, "You'll never make 'Rush Hour 3' as long as I'm the mayor."

"I scared them so much, I am in the DVD" release of the film, the mayor said.

"It is on sale for $9.99," Wolfson said. "If you want to see it."

Actually, Wal-Mart has it in stock for $7.50, and Amazon.com sells copies for $4 or less. But your best bet is your local Clark County library branch, where you can check it out for free, along with "Rush Hour 3."

ALAN CHOATE

THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS SHOWED UP THURSDAY to protest budget cuts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Most simply opposed the cuts. A few proposed possible solutions, such as various tax increases.

One student sat on a bench, reading. The title of her book: "The National Debt."

RICHARD LAKE